BMW: Top of the Rockies Rally (Paonia, CO) and Colorado Mountain Fair in Carbondale

July 26-27, 2008 was time spent by over 800 bikers in Paonia, Colorado at the BMW Bikers' Rally. Skeeter Kopacekv came from Minnesota and is shown beside his bike (in black). And Shag is standing by his blow-up alien protecting his Beemer (it's a long story, and he has the video to prove it).

Colorado Beemers were hosted by residents of this small Colorado mountain town. Friendly Paonia residents provided attendees

Breakfast on Saturday, a great Dinner on Saturday night...along with First Rate Music on stage on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings.

Then a fast and beautiful trip over McClure Pass to Carbondale, CO for the annual Colorado Mountain Fair was the second stop on the weekend. Beautiful handmade things there, and I talked to a woman I was acquainted with through her Etsy shop.

Two friends were displaying their glass dichroic art at this juried fair, and I came away with a beautiful necklace from Holly Sokol. Her Sokol Kiln Fired Glass site is well worth checking out.

At the Colorado Mountain Fair, the Police got in the spirit by performing their security duties dressed in tie-dyed shirts and caps.

Everyone had a grand time. If you did not participate, you might want to plan for it next year.

Triptychs - Paintings

"Triptych", the word itself, means three items consecutively joined. It could be thoughts, prayers, icons, or paintings that are used or grouped together that follow the same theme.

Here is further information about painted Triptychs:

...painting consisting of three panels, usually hinged together with the central panel being twice the width of the wings, which may fold inwards. The triptych developed from the diptych and was used both as a portable altar and, on a larger scale, as an altarpiece.

Above: Anonymous painter. Triptych with Virgin and Child Flanked by archangels, scenes from the life of Christ, apostles and Saint George and Saint Mercurius. Ethiopia (Gojjam?), late 17th century. Tempera on panel. 14 78 x 4 5/16 inches left; 15 1/8 x 9 inches center; 15 1/16 x 4 7/16 inches right. 36.7 museum purchased, the W. Alton Jones Foundation Acquisition Fund, 1996, from the Nancy and Robert Nooter Collection. (taken from Tadias)

But triptych art does not always have the middle panel larger, nor must it always fold. Triptych art can be found for sale many places, and is especially easy to purchase over the internet on either Etsy or eBay.

Last year, I completed a triptych in oil paints which is displayed in our home, and is currently for sale at my Etsy shop. I shamelessly promote this site since I have several things for sale here.

Each panel is 10" x 20", and if put side-by-side, the triptych measures 30" x 20".

Here are pictures of my triptych oil paintings, entitled "Three Peas in a Pod":

Get 'em while they're hot!

Making Fabric Roses

If your sewing stash looks like mine, you will have plenty of extra selvage fabric to make these roses, since each rose requires only one piece of fabric 5” x 30” (piece it together if you don’t have a 30” strip; no one will ever know!).

Joann Fabrics gives a quick tutorial and says

If you are a fan of fabric, this is the project for you. Fabric flowers give allergy sufferers nothing to sneeze at when adding a decorative element to any room. (Picture courtesy of JoAnn Fabrics)

The instructions are downloadable (only one page).

One of these flowers (or two) would make a lovely “bow” on your next gift package.